08.03.25 Tali Kasar dan Air Mata: Pengorbanan Kecil, Dampak Besar

Saturday after Ash Wednesday "Lk 5:27-32" Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Jesus came to seek those who need conversion and He wants your help and mine to reach out to them. With our apostolate, we can help others to realise that Jesus has given His Life for each one of them. No one can be left behind. We are apostles and there are many souls to save. One of the reasons why we offer more sacrifices during Lent is precisely to pray that many sinners receive the grace of conversion. In the apparitions at Fatima in 1917, Our Lady insisted, "Men must amend their lives, and ask pardon for their sins... They must no longer offend Our Lord, Who is already so much offended." Lucia wrote: "What has remained most deeply imprinted on my heart is the prayer of our heavenly Mother begging us not to offend Almighty God any more, Who is already so much offended." But for people to amend their lives, Our Lady asked the three children, "Pray, pray very much and make a sacrifice for sinners, because many souls are going to hell because no one offers sacrifices for them." The three children started to look for ways to mortify themselves. One day Lucia found a rough rope that irritated her skin and suggested it be cut into three pieces so each of them could wear it continuously around their waists. Pleasing as it was to God, Our Lady had to ask them not to use the rope at night, for they couldn't sleep. They also gave their lunches to poor children they met along the way, or would spend all the daylight hours without drinking a single drop of water. The three children were aged 10, 9 and 7! If those little children could please God with their sacrifices, what about me? Mary, my Mother, would you help me this Lent to be generous in my sacrifices? In that way, like the children of Fatima, I can have a big impact on the conversion of souls.